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Flyers’ Claude Giroux was named a finalist for the Hart Trophy.

Another spring, another early Flyers breakup day.

This one takes place at the dinner hour Friday. Maybe somebody will order ice cream to go with the humble pie that will be served.

(Annual rim shot, please.)

Despite a seven-game series to New York and the eye-rolling “break’em up” proclamations on Twitter afterward, the Flyers are too close to stop rebuilding now. The NHL in whatever century this is has become a parity lover’s dream. In a conference of 16 teams (as opposed to 14 in the West, with which Gary Bettman claims to be fine), a dozen or more teams are in the playoff chase until the final week. And once there, it’s usually anybody’s ball game.

Series usually go six or seven in length now, the games usually not decided by scoring superstars as much as by defensive depth, hence the Flyers not making it past the first round, yet making it a long series, winding up one goal short of a close rival that seemed just a little bit better all year. So the recriminations start, but the fixes aren’t far behind ...

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GOALTENDING

It seems all set except for the paperwork. Steve Mason is the man. Ray Emery is a free agent again, one worthy of another short-term backup deal if he’s willing to sign it. There are plenty of free agents, but Emery looks like the best value.

OFFENSE

Claude Giroux was announced Thursday as a finalist for the Hart Trophy. He won’t win, but even a bronze medal isn’t bad for a guy who was nearly a month late in joining the scoring race. But he always exhibits effort on both ends of the ice. He backchecks with the best of them, and at times his game is right there with shoo-in Hart Trophy winner Sid Crosby.

Overall, he’s one of the best in the league, and has a tailor-made scoring partner in fast Jake Voracek.

As for linemate Scott Hartnell, he only has five seasons left on his contract at $4.75 million per annum. He should be paid until well into a tenure as hand-shaking team ambassador.

Behind them is one of the fastest rising stars of the NHL, winger Wayne Simmonds. He pairs well with young Brayden Schenn, but his streaky play and expiring contract make him a trade candidate if such a move was necessitated in what will be a search for a veteran defenseman who can play all over the ice. Then there’s Vinny Lecavalier, who presumably dealt with back issues down the stretch and into the playoffs. If not, the four years at $4.5M each left on his deal is a major concern.

That’s the pricey worries, but the Flyers can draw balance from Sean Couturier and Matt Read on the third line.

With veteran checker Adam Hall, who has earned a raise and at least one more season with the club, Couturier and Read form a terrific penalty-killing unit. But offensively, they aren’t consistent. Couturier is rapidly becoming one of the best defensive forwards in the league at only 21, but he has to show better playmaking skills soon.

As for newcomers, Michael Raffl’s versatility was a real find, and he’s another rapidly developing penalty killer. And diminutive Jason Akeson showed in the playoffs that he might be able to succeed at the NHL level. But there is still a need for another scoring wing, especially if the Flyers part ways with Schenn.

DEFENSE

Competent but unspectacular Andrew MacDonald recently got a six-year, $30 million deal — not ludicrous in this market segment. So at those prices, you can’t be surprised if 39-year-old Kimmo Timonen tries to get one more one-year deal from the Flyers.

But Mark Streit is now your No. 1 defenseman, Luke Schenn had better moments late in the season, Erik Gustafsson is still an unknown and steady Braydon Coburn was anything but against the Rangers.

While a sudden change of Nashville heart to make Shea Weber available in a trade (rather than the Predators paying him $42 million in bonus money alone over the next four years, thanks to needing to match the Flyers’ free agent offer two years ago) might alter the plan, the Flyers should pursue an agenda of wishing Timonen well, searching for another veteran defender to fill the hole and waiting for Shayne Gostisbehere to finally get here.

Yes, this defense needs mobility. But more urgently, it needs to get more physical. Otherwise, playoff series will continue to be lost to teams like the Rangers.